Veterinary Services
Pet Wellness Exams in Grafton, WI
Pets age faster than humans. Because their lives progress more quickly, serious medical conditions do, too.
Pet Wellness Exams
In seeing your veterinarian annually, you have the opportunity to discuss your pet’s future health outlook, and ask questions about any existing conditions. For many patients, especially older pets and those with chronic health problems, we recommend twice yearly exams.
Prior to your pet’s wellness exam, note any changes that have occurred with your pet since we saw you last. This may include obvious signs, such as vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, weight gain/loss, excessive thirst, or behavior changes. At your pet’s visit we will also ask about things you may not be as aware of, such as subtle changes in mobility or habits that might indicate joint pain, cognitive decline or anxiety. We encourage you to fill out a Pet Wellness Report questionnaire or a senior questionnaire prior to your visit. This will help us to zero in on the issues most important to your pet’s health.
During your pet’s wellness exam visit we will:
- It can help return a lost animal to their proper owner.
- Microchips help animal shelters avoid the unnecessary expense of boarding an animal that belongs to a loving home.
- Microchips provide a permanent method of identifying your pet. If your pet is lost or stolen and its collar is removed, a vet or shelter can still return your pet to their home.
- Some countries require a microchip that must also be cross-referenced with an up-to-date vaccination record before an animal is allowed to enter the country.
- They can help distinguish the legal owner of a pet when the ownership of the animal is in dispute.
- Get a complete history from you about your pet’s diet, exercise routine, behavior and health
- Perform a full-body physical exam
- Perform a dental exam and evaluation
- Administer any vaccinations your pet needs
- Do heartworm and tick-borne disease testing in dogs, and intestinal parasite screening for both dogs and cats
- Perform appropriate testing for any diseases your pet has risk for, which may include blood testing, blood pressure measurement, urine and stool testing, eye testing and heart screening
- Perform appropriate testing to monitor any diseases your pet already is at, as well as to check for medication side effects if he or she is on long-term medication
- Do a nutrition and weight evaluation
- Develop a risk assessment evaluation and a Healthy Steps plan for addressing anything we find that could adversely affect your pet’s health
- Teach you about some aspect of pet health care – there is always something new or interesting to learn about! If you are a new client, you will receive a pet care binder with all sorts of good information, and we will add to it at every visit.
Our animal hospital offers Health Care Plans that let you spread the cost of your pet’s visit over a full year, making wellness care and testing more affordable.
Puppy and kitten exams
We want to see your new puppy or kitten within a few days of bringing him or her home. Virtually all young animals have intestinal parasites that we need to treat, so bring a stool sample along to your first visit. We also need to get your new friend on a parasite prevention program. Vaccinations will likely be needed – even if the breeder or shelter started your young pet on its vaccines often additional immunizations are needed. In addition to the items listed above, we will talk with you about behavior, training, socialization and other aspects of care, and you will go home with a binder full of written information. We will add additional age-appropriate information at every subsequent visit. We want you to be the expert when it comes to your pet’s health!
Senior pet exams
Senior pets require more care than their youthful counterparts. Because older pets are more susceptible to age-related illnesses, it is recommended that elderly pets receive a wellness exam twice each year, with complete lab work performed at least once per year. During senior pet exams, our veterinarians take your pet’s vital statistics and perform a complete head-to-tail exam of internal organs and joints, assessing any abnormalities or pain your pet might be exhibiting. Our goal is to maximize your pet’s “healthspan.” It’s not just about how long a pet lives, it’s how long he or she is happy, healthy, active and comfortable.
To schedule your pet’s wellness exam, contact our veterinary clinic today!